Hydrogen-Rich Water Using as a Modulator of Gut Microbiota and Managing the Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is well known as a colorless gas, and water enriched with H2 (HRW) is an innovative, beneficial beverage for human health that improves gut microbiota management and the viability of the intestinal. Drinking water enriched with hydrogen has been found to have therapeutic effects on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The low molecular weight of H2 enables it to easily diffuse and permeate cell membranes to exert various biological effects. In addition, H2 may control the immune system, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities (metabolism of mitochondrial energy), and cell death processes (apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis) by reducing excessive reactive oxygen species generation and altering nuclear transcription factors. The fundamental mechanism of H2 is still not fully understood. Given its safety and possible usefulness, H2 has a promising future as a treatment for a variety of illnesses, including IBD. This review aimed to comprehensively highlight the current knowledge in the fields of H2 function in antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects as well as its underlying mechanism, with a focus on IBD, and also offer recommendations for using H2 medically to treat IBD.